238730 Thu Sep 26 14:47:26 -0700 2002 7 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1266102 For the first time, I went to a place where the only source of information I had was the praise on this board. So I felt it only fair to post my own reaction. Everything was very good. I've had other Indian buffets (though it's certainly not a frequent dining choice) and this was the best I've had. This dreary, rainy Thursday it was very slow. Only 5 other customers during my 40 minutes there. The buffet today? - Two kinds of rice, plain white Basmati, and Basmati with Saffron and fried onion bits. I had the saffron variety, and it was light and very aromatic. - Goat Curry. One of two dishes that very much impressed me. This had a complex yet mildly spiced brown oniony sauce with clear notes of cinnamon and coriander seed, and tiny mild green chili peppers. This is what I was expecting from Leff's "revelatory" statement. - Chicken. In a pale orange/yellow sauce (unidentified to me) with potato. The chicken was a bit dry and underseasoned and the dish as a whole was average buffet fare. - Spinach dish. I skipped it - Mixed Vegetable Curry. Yummy, the other impressive dish. Tender veggies including Cauliflower, potato, rutabaga, cabbage, onion and zucchini. Yellow curry spice mix with clear pleasant notes of mustard seed!! - Potato "Home Fries" that has been mentioned before; a mashed potato dish with finely chopped veggie bits and a very mild spice. Problems... -As mentioned before, the food is room temp, though the meat dishes had a bit of heat as the stewing liquid insulated them a bit; and I did witness the fussing over the sterno I've read about. -For the first 20 minutes, it was silent. Then they suddenly put on Petula Clark's Greatest Hits. It was pretty strange. All in all, worth $4.95 for lunch, but I won't be going back.... only because I'm vacationing at home this week, and can't get to Jackson Heights on my lunch hour. Thu Sep 26 14:47:26 -0700 2002 0 Bill H 1 1266187 I've been enjoying the buffet at Sajna on a regular basis, since I live and work in the area. It's definitely one of the best South Asian buffets in JH. On the other hand, I don't know if it would be worth a trip from another boro. Maybe our standards are lower now because it's so hard to find a solid South Asian place in the area. The sad thing is that the frozen curries they sell at Patel Bros. are much better than the 'fresh' stuff at most places in JH. Sun Sep 29 22:51:08 -0700 2002 1266102 0 njfats 2 1266189 hey, i'd enjoy a posting about those frozen curries. i've been known to subsist for weeks on tasty bites, but now i'm worlds away from a trader joes, living in astoria without a car. any tips? Mon Sep 30 00:16:13 -0700 2002 1266187 0 babar ganesh 3 1266299 I really like "Deep" brand frozen products. You can buy them at Patel Bros. and Subzi Mandi in JH. They are usually vegetarian. I think they're made locally. There's another good brand that makes frozen entres with meat, but I can't remember the name. You'll find them alongside the Deep products. Rajbog on 37th avenue also makes frozen dishes, but I didn't especially like them. Their kulfi is awesome though. Wed Oct 02 16:21:31 -0700 2002 1266189 0 njfats 4 1266300 I'm as guilty as anyone of this...and I'm not picking on you, njfats; just taking opportunity to mention for those reading along: Please try to remember to change thread titles when discussion drifts. There are lots of people who'd be interested in this interesting discussion, but won't notice it because they think we're still talking about Sajna. That's a shame. It's never too late in the game to change a thread title...feel free to do so in your response to something...or response to a response, etc. If the discussion is "tagged" late, readers along can simply read backwards through prior messages. I WON'T change it on my post because it's unlikely that further talk of frozen curries will take place in response to this particular posting! ciao Wed Oct 02 16:44:43 -0700 2002 1266299 0 Jim Leff 5 1266321 I continued the discussion on deep, in a new thread on the general board. link is attached Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/290449#1576566 Thu Oct 03 09:56:03 -0700 2002 1266300 0 zim 4 1266968 I was in Jackson Heights yesterday and looked for frozen "Deep" products. Couldn't locate them at Patel Bros. I also cannot locate Subzi Mandi in yellow.com. Is there an alternative spelling? Thanks. Fri Oct 25 08:29:13 -0700 2002 1266299 0 Pat Goldberg 5 1266971 The Jackson Hts Subzi Mandi (it is a chain) is located at 37th Ave and 73rd St. Online yellow pages are not always well updated and are not complete - also many businesses do not have a yellow pages listing - why not call 718 information? DEEP Products is located in New Jersey, I believe - you may be able to contact the company directly to find out who sells their stuff here. I have seem their snack foods in some of the shops on Lexington Ave, for example. Fri Oct 25 09:47:39 -0700 2002 1266968 0 jen kalb